rob

I can certainly respect the libertarian view on issues like this, even if I'm not 100% in agreement. But, I'm sure you're consistent, right? Heroin, steroids, antibiotics, cocaine, crack, etc. -- should all be legal, too, right? Making that shit illegal is just another social engineering project, isn't it? I do, btw. I think every drug under the sun should be legal. Though, I'd support warning labels on some of them.

Selling shit like their new oatmeal, and marketing it as a "healthy choice," when really it is quite the opposite. It's trickery.

Lots of things are simple. Don't want to be homeless? Get a job! Don't want cancer? Don't smoke! Don't want to be fat? Stop eating so much! The solutions are so simple, and yet we still have the homeless, and we still have a growing obesity problem. I've read that cigarette smoking is declining. Perhaps we just need more education, and more cultural stigma on junk food & over-eating, via commercials and media. Maybe we need non-profits to start pushing anti-fat campaigns. It's easier to solve obesity if you don't get fat to begin with? Doing nothing isn't working, though, that's for sure. And, back on topic, McDonald's is basically the same as the big tobacco companies, in my opinion. They're selling a product that is only bad in excess, and they see people doing it in excess, and they don't seem to care. Why? $$$$$$$$$$

Hmm, don't all obese people have SOME kind of food abuse issue? Excepting obesity caused by disease, of course -- which I imagine is the minority. Is it possible to be obese but not have problems with food? I guess maybe you mean people that just don't know better?

I mean, many health departments have letter grades to rate the cleanliness of a restaurants. Is that oppressive, too?

I did it in a day, it was not hard by any means. I'm glad I didn't stay at the lunch counter, it was crazy crowded. But, I've heard the views are nice, so....

I dunno, I think an insurance premium on obese people is not a bad idea. They charge one for smokers. But that's up to the insurance companies, obviously. Bill, it's because I DO think something must be done. It's out of control. I don't know what to do; I'm not an expert. I'm just discussing it, for fun. But I'm pretty sure I haven't suggested anything really that oppressive. I mean, if you disagree, fine, but I'm pretty sure that my brain-stormed idea of letter grades on the nutritional info doesn't qualify me as on oppressor or whatever.

How about, next to the dietary info, a giant letter grade. Ho-ho's or donuts might have a giant F-. A bag of rice might have an A. This would be based off the proportions of the RDA that the food meets, per serving. I don't know. I'm just throwing ideas out there. I'm pretty sure, though, that I haven't thrown out any ideas that result in a "police state" or anything like that. There is clearly a problem, yet any suggestion *I* make to solve it is met with shrill, panicked screams about "nazis" and "police states." I've asked politely several times what other people propose to solve the problem, but all I get back is a bunch of nonsense about alcohol prohibition, nanny states, and "it's all their own fault anyway." Or, shockingly, that there is actually no problem at all.

Clearly, there must be some option between "draconian, nazi-ish control" of people's personal diets, and complete and utter libertarian abandonment. Obesity is a problem that affects all of us, and I don't think saying, "oh well, it's all their fault" is an really effective solution. I don't think anybody is arguing that it's not their fault, by the way. Just that something needs to be done. Don't you think? What do you suggest, Jay?

I have a pair of hardshell pants. I think I've used them maybe once or twice. Get soft-shell pants.

Salt + Fat + Sugar = FUCKING YUM

Oh, it's natural. It must be safe, then. You know, like hemlock.

I don't see what's wrong with a fat tax. We charge heavy cars and trucks a premium, because of the erosion they cause on the roads. Same concept.

god damn I'm going to buy a bucket of fried chicken tonight. YUM!

Of course it's available. I don't think "availability" is really the problem. I don't think fat people are fat because they just can't FIND good food. I was really poor once, and I still ate healthy food. Because I'm not dumb. I think junk food prob tastes better, is cheaper, and easier to prepare. But that doesn't mean healthy food isn't "available." Hence, the problem. No, the alternative isn't available for everyone, which is reflected in more obesity among the poor. But, the poor are more stupider. That's why they're poor.

yes - the problem that people are people - wait, why's that a problem? The problem is that fat people don't seem to get it. I saw a fat woman in the store once, asking her fat friend if Captain Crunch was "healthy." She bought several boxes. We use laws to protect the dumb. That's why we don't let them abuse antibiotics, or eat botulism. Maybe we need a label that says, "No. While delicious, Captain Crunch is not healthy." Or something. I'd be all for a fat tax.

those are some big milk jugs.

Of course it's available. I don't think "availability" is really the problem. I don't think fat people are fat because they just can't FIND good food. I was really poor once, and I still ate healthy food. Because I'm not dumb. I think junk food prob tastes better, is cheaper, and easier to prepare. But that doesn't mean healthy food isn't "available." Hence, the problem.

I drilled your mom last night. Lots of natural gas, though.

Not sure how taxing big macs (or labeling them) equates to "parsing every single habit," let alone "nazi-ish" (I'm invoking Godwin's Law, btw, so you lose by-default) Curious: do you think antibiotics should be completely unregulated (i.e. over-the-counter)? Regardless, I'm all for letting people lead their lives or whatever. I just want them to read a big label that says, "YOU"RE FAT" when they eat a bigmac.

then can I take a HUGE WHIPPER???

What is a big jump?

I mean, Lucky Charms are part of a nutritious breakfast. It even says so, right on the box!

perhaps b/c your regulations sound likely to be draconian? "hashish or hash-browns" great bit of poetry there jay! Are warning labels on cigarettes draconian? The tobacco industry sure thought they were, when they were first suggested. "It's all about choice!!!!"